Terminal forming fixture



Filed July 20, 1949 H. P. WESTER 'TERMINAL FORMING FIXTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 3, 1953 k av v um um A TTORNEV March 3, 1953 H. P. WESTER 2,630,156

TERMINAL FORMING FIXTURE Filed July 20, 1949 V '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG? ' O 4'9 am 5'0 3/ 54 mvavroe H. R W55 H. F. WESTER TERMINAL FORMING FIXTURE March 3, 1953 Filed July 20, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORN EY March 3, 1953 H. P. WESTER TERMINAL FORMING FIXTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 20. 1949 mve/vron H. P. WESTER 8y ,JJ'Q-P Q TITORNEV Patented Mar. 3, 1953 TERMINAL FORMING FIXTURE Henry P; Wester, Chatham, N. J., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y a. corporation of New York Application July 20, 1949, Serial No. 105,676

6 Claims.

This invention relates to terminal forming fixtures. and has for its object the provision or a fixture whereby the terminals of an article. which have been bent or otherwise disturbed, may be readily formed in readiness for mounting in a container.

One particular type of condenser desirable for use in the communication arts includes terminals formed of a particular type of sheet metal which is highly satisfactory during the general manufacture of the condenser and after the condenser is disposed in a molded or otherwise suitable container. However, it has been found that the handling of the condenserbetween its completion and mounting in a container, the terminals frequently become bent out of shape and out of their given positions with respect to each other, creating a disturbing factor in the assembly of the condensers in their containers.

In accordance with the aforementioned object, the invention comprises a terminal forming fixture having a table to support at a given position, an article, with terminals which are to be formed, and an anvil movable relative to the table to be positioned between the terminals, while forming elements are brought into engagement with the terminals and cooperate with the anvil to accurately form the terminals and position them with respect to each other.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the article is a condenser having terminals formed of sheet. metal, crimped or otherwise secured to the main body of the condenser along opposing sides thereof and extending inwardly toward each other and outwardly in parallel relation with respect to each other when accurately formed. When. the article or condenser is dropped; or otherwise mishandled, the outwardly extending portions of the terminals will be bent out. of their respective positions. The anvil in moving relative to the table extends between the terminals to space them apart the required distance while forming elements, disposed on each side of the anvil and normally held away from each other by a cam, are released after the anvil is. inposition to strike the terminals, forcing them against the sides of the anvil to position them parallel with each other. A forming member, normally positioned away from the anvil is movable. into engagement with the top surface thereof when in the forming position to force either or both terminals down into position to further correct any irregularities in their positions with respect to. each other. An single actuating mechanism normally holds the anvil, the forming elements and the forming member away from the operating position and is actuable to cause. movement thereof into operating position a given sequence, first the anvil followed by the forming elements and finally the forming member.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the fixture, portions thereof being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional. view of the :fixture shown in operated position;

Fig. 3. is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional. view of the fixture in its normal, position;

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of one of the forming elements and its supporting means;

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of a portion of the actuating mechanism and the forming member;

Fig. '7 is an isometric view of the supporting table and a portion of the anvil; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively plane and side elevational views of. an article with terminals which have been formed by the fixture.

Referring now to the drawings, attention is first directed to Figs. 8 and 9 which illustrate an article or condenser It having terminals ll formed of a suitable sheet. metal and having portions, 12 U-shaped in cross-section and secured to the main body of. the condenser. The outer or main portions ll. of the terminalsare of double thick.- ness, but the intermediate. portions 14 are not, and they may be readily bent out of shaperesultin in the main terminal portions l I being moved out of position with respect to each other so that it may be difl'icult. to assemble the condenser in. its suitable container. Inother words,.the terminals II which must be. spaced a given. distance apart with respect to the general centerline of the condenser, in general alignment with. the condenser as shown in Fig. 9 and parallel as shown in. Fig, 8. The fixture for forming the terminals, should they be disturbed from the positions shown in Figs. 8 and 9, includes a base it upon which a table I! is mounted, the table being provided with vertical side members It as shown in Fig. 7 to accurately locate the article or condenser. in: the fixture. The inner surface of the table l'lis provideo. with parallel members 21], spaced from each other and cooperating with plates 2| to form parallel guides for an anvil. 22.. lhe table is also pI'OVlClGG with cutaway portions 23 for the forming elements 24.

Considering first the anvil 22, the vertical portion of which is mounted for movement between the parallel guides 20-2! includes an upper forming portion 26 having parallel surfaces 21 and aligned outwardly projecting portions 28.

A cam 30 integral with the vertical portion of the anvil has a tapered cam surface 3| to be engaged by a cam roller 32 actuable to move the anvil into the position shown in Fig. 4 against the force of a spring 33 to hold the anvil in its normal or lower position. The spring 33, disposed in a recess 34 of the base l6, extends about a pin 35 having its upper end mounted in the cam 30. A pin 36 extending at right angles to the pin 35 is carried by the anvil and extends into a cutaway portion 31 of the table l! where it may travel during reciprocation of the anvil a distance limited by an adjustable stop 38, which controls the location of the anvil when in its operating position.

The forming elements 24 are substantially identical in structure with the exception that they may be defined as right and left hand elements. These elements are mounted for sliding movement in guides 48, normally urged toward each other by springs 4|, the forces of which may be varied by adjusting screws 42 locked in adjusted position by nuts 43. The inner ends of the forming elements 24 include shelves 43 which are to extend beneath the terminals to assist in forming or positioning the terminals in parallel relation with each other (Fig. 9). Hammer-like members 44 of the elements 24, parallel with each other and with the surfaces 21 of the anvil 26 cooperate therewith in straightening or forming the terminals. Parallel projections 46 of the elements 24 carry cam-rollers 4'! to be engaged by a cam 48 movable between the rollers to actuate them and to control movement of the forming elements 24. The cam 48 as shown in Fig. 6 includes parallel spaced high portions 49 and 58 with intermediate lower portions for a purpose hereinafter described.

The cam 48 and the cam roller 32 are mounted on a carriage 53 slidable in a grooved guide 54 mounted on the base l6. A rack 55 fixedly mounted on the carriage 53 with the cam 48 and cam roller 32 interengages a pinion 56 which is mounted upon a shaft 51. The shaft 51 is mounted for rocking movement in bearings 58 supported by the base l6. A hand lever 66 fixedly mounted on one of the outer ends of the shaft 51 completes the single means actuable to actuate all the elements of the fixture between the normal position and the operating position thereof.

A forming member 62, which in the present embodiment of the invention is a metal plate, is movably supported by the outer ends of parallel arms 63 through the aid of screws 64. Cushions 65 formed of suitable material such as sponge rubber are interposed between the ends of the forming member 62 and the arms 63 to act as cushions during movement of the forming member toward the anvil 22 to complete the final forming operation on the terminals. The arms 63 have portions disposed concentric with the shaft 51 and fixed thereto so that they will rock with the shaft between the normal position shown in Fig. 4 and the operated position shown in Fig. 2.

Considering now the operation of the fixture, let it be assumed that an article or condenser 8, illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, may have its terminals bent out of position and twisted out of their parallel planes. This article may be placed on the table I! between the vertical guides l8 interval of time, but many things take place to correct or otherwise form the terminals which may be individually twisted or bent out of shape, where it would be impossible to assemble the condenser with others in a container.

During the first portion of the movement of the hand lever 68 from the position shown in Fig. 4, the shaft 5! is rocked with the pinion 56, moving the rack 55 to move the carriage 53 with the cam roller 32 and the cam 48. The cam roller 32, riding away from the cam 30, allows the spring 33 to force the anvil 22 upwardly between the terminals II. In so doing, the surfaces 21 are positioned with the forming projections 28 to perform their functions in cooperation with the forming elements 24. During this portion of the movement of the hand lever 60, the cam 48 is moved between the cam rollers 41 from the high portions 49 to the low portions 5| to allow the forming elements 24 to move toward each other gradually causing the shelves 43 thereof to be positioned beneath the terminals. Continued movement of the cam 48 causes the forming elements to move outwardly again away from each other as the cam rollers 41 ride upon the high portions 58 of the cam, after which the forming elements are freed to move inwardly under the forces of their springs 4| to strike the terminals forcing them into engagement with their surfaces 21 of the anvil into parallel positions with each other when looking downwardly upon the condenser (Fig. 8) and also forming the portions M of the terminals about the portions 28 of the anvil. During the final movement of the hand lever 68, into the position shown in Fig. 2, the forming member 62 will engage either or both terminals M, if they extend upwardly out of position, to move them downwardly onto the shelves 43 into general alignment with the condenser as shown in Fig. 9. This completes the forming operation which may be completed in approximately one second but which will carry out several forming operations to correct former defects in the terminals as to their positions with respect to each other and to the main body of the condenser.

After the operator has returned the hand lever 68 to its normal position shown in Fig. 4, the corrected article may be removed from the table and another disposed in place for the formation or correction of its terminals. While the hand lever 60 is being moved to the normal position, the carriage, through the actuation of the pinion 56 and the rack 55, Will move the forming member 62 away from the table, after which the forming elements 24 will be moved away from each other against the forces of their springs 4| by the cam 48 moving between the cam rollers 41, and finally the cam roller 32, riding upon the cam 38 or the cam surface 3| thereof, will force the anvil 22 downwardly against its spring 33 where it will be held away from the terminals H to eliminate any possibility of the terminals being bent out of position when removed from the fixture. The fixture is now in readiness for the next article which may be located on the table and the fixture moved through an operating cycle by movement of the hand lever 60 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 2 and back to the position shown in Fig. 4.

It is to be understood that the above described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A terminal forming fixture comprising a table to support an article whose terminals are to be formed, means mounted on the table to locate the article at a given position thereon, an anvil movable relative to the table and in a direction to extend between the terminals, oompanion elements supported on opposite sides of the anvil, actuable to move the terminals into intimate engagement with the anvil to form the terminals and position them relative to each other, members carried by and movable with the elements with surfaces lying in a given plane to engage like edges of their respective terminals and move them in a given direction if they extend beyond the said plane, and a pad movable toward the anvil to engage the opposing edges of the terminals to force the terminals into position on their members.

2. A terminal forming fixture comprising a table to support an article whose terminals are to be formed, means mounted on the table to locate the article at a given position thereon, an anvil supported for movement relative to the table between a forming position and a loading position, means to move the anvil into a forming position during which time it will move between the terminals, means actuable to move the anvil into the loading position and to normally hold the anvil in this position, companion forming elements supported on the opposite sides of the anvil, actuable to move the terminals into intimate engagement with the anvil to form the terminals and position them relative to each other, an actuating element positioned adjacent the anvil and elements and movable between a normal position and an operated position, and means operable in a given sequence during movement of the actuating element from its normal position to cause movement of the anvil into its forming position and to subsequently actuate the forming elements.

3. A terminal forming fixture comprising a table to support an article whose terminals are to be formed, means mounted on the table to locate the article at a given position thereon, an anvil supported for movement relative to the table between a forming position and a loading position, means to move the anvil into a forming position during which time it will move between the terminals, means actuable to move the anvil into the loading position and to normally hold the anvil in this position, shelves supported on opposite sides of the anvil for movement toward and away from the anvil to engage the under surfaces of the terminals, if they are bent downwardly, and move them into a given plane, and a cushioned member to engage the upper surfaces of the terminals to move the terminals downwardly into engagement with the shelves.

4. A terminal forming fixture comprising a table to support an article whose terminals are to be formed, means mounted on the table to locate the article at a given position thereon, an anvil supported for movement relative to the table between a forming position and a loading position, means to move the anvil into a forming position during which time it will move between the terminals, means actuable to move the anvil into the loading position and to normally hold the anvil in this position, companion forming elements supported on opposite sides of the anvil for movement toward and away from the anvil to move the terminals into intimate engagement with the anvil to form the terminals and position them relative to each other, shelves supported by the elements to engage the under surfaces of the terminals, if they are bent downwardly, and move them into a given plane, and a cushioned member mounted for movement relative to the anvil to engage the upper surfaces of the terminals to move the terminals downwardly into engagement with the shelves.

5. A terminal forming fixture comprising a table to support an article whose terminals are to be formed, means mounted on the table to locate the article at a given position thereon, an anvil supported for movement relative to the table between a forming position and a loading position, means to move the anvil into a forming position during which time it will move between the terminals, means actuable to move the anvil into the loading position and to normally hold the anvil in this position, companion forming elements supported on opposite sides of the anvil for movement toward and away from the anvil to move the terminals into intimate engagement with the anvil to form the terminals and position them relative to each other, a rocking shaft, individual mechanisms actuated by the rocking of the shaft in one direction to move the anvil into its forming position and subsequently move the forming elements toward the anvil, shelves to support the terminals carried by the forming elements, and a forming member supported by the shaft and movable therewith to move the terminals into engagement with the shelves.

6. A terminal forming fixture comprising a table to support an article whose terminals are to be formed, means mounted on the table to locate the article at a given position thereon, an anvil supported for movement relative to the table between a forming position and a loading position, means to move the anvil into a forming position during which time it will move between the terminals, means actuable to move the anvil into the loading position and to normally hold the anvil in this position, companion forming elements supported on opposite sides of the anvil for movement toward and away from the anvil to move the terminals into intimate engagement with the anvil to form the terminals and position them relative to each other, means normally urging the elements toward the anvil, a carriage supported for movement relative to the table, means supported by the carriage to hold the anvil in its normal position and free it for movement into its forming position during movement of the carriage from its normal position, and a cam supported by the carriage to normally hold the forming elements away from the anvil during positioning of the article on the table and free the forming elements for movement into engagement with the terminals subsequent to the movement of the anvil between the terminals.

HENRY P. WESTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

